Guy Verhofstadt

Guy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt (11 April 1953 in Dendermonde) is a liberalBelgian politician. He served as Prime Minister of that country from 1999 until 2008, as served in the European Parliament since July 14, 2009, and is the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group in the parliament. He is a member of Open VLD, a progressive liberal party in Flanders. During his leadership of Belgium, he led three Federal cabinets, and he also opposed the War in Iraq.

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Politics

Verhofstadt is known as an elitist, progressive liberal and Europhile. He has called for a United States of Europe. He also writes books advancing his political (crazy-) ideas. In 2017, he labeled conservative U.S. President Donald Trump a "white supremacist" and called the conservative, Euroskeptic governments of Poland and Hungary "alt-right."[1] On September 20, 2016, Verhofstadt stated that nationalism is a cancer (in the sense of a threat) on a debate in the European Parliament about the Brexit.[2] When Sarah Sanders stated she believed God chose Trump to be president, Verhofstadt stated that "I have never felt so atheist."[3]

In addition to Calling for the EU to become "one nation", he has called for having unelected EU bureaucrats shutting out elected populists from holding any real political power.[4]

Travel ban by Russia (2015)

In May 2015, the media reported that Verhofstadt was blacklisted by Russia as being one of the prominent people from the European Union who are not allowed to enter the country.[5][6]

Brexit negotiator

In September 2016, Verhofstadt was appointed lead Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament.[7] Verhofstadt's main opponent is the UKIP-leader Nigel Farage, which is well known for the successful pro-Brexit campaign.

Companies

Verhofstadt was a member of the Board of Directors from multiple companies, like the Dutch state-retirement company ABP which were he received an compensation of €43.100.- and by the Belgian shipping company Exmar he received €60.000.-,[8] in addition to his salary for the European Parliament.